Walter Pooley
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Walter was born in 1906, the son of William Ernest Pooley (d. 1940) and Emily Ellen Pooley (née Coates), of 37 Cloister St. [e.1939 & 45] and the husband of Agnes (née Wilkinson b. 1907) whom he married in 1931.
In 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled Walter and Agnes were living at 24 Cloister Street, Lenton, Nottingham. Edith was not employed while Walter was a school porter. They may have had a daughter, Janice Pooley, b. 1939 (reg. AMJ, mother's maiden name Wilkinson). His widow later lived at 60 Beeston Rd. [e.1945 & 79].
Agnes married Eric Arthur Benn in 1958 and died in 2004.
For additional information about Walter's family see the record for his brother, John William Pooley (DOW 2 September 1918), on this Roll of Honour.
Walter served in the Royal Artillery (987665 Gunner).
He died on 6th October 1943 at a hospital in Chiswick following an accident.
His detachment, while stationed in London, had been sent potato picking. Another soldier, situated close to Walter Pooley, came across an unexploded device which went off when he picked it up. The man was killed and Walter was badly injured in the explosion and died shortly afterwards.
Walter was interred in Nottingham General Cemetery (Grave 4796).
Walter's eldest brother, John William (k/a William b. 1897)) served in the First World War in the 4th Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) (S.3630 Rifleman). He enlisted in September 1914 and after serving with the BEF France was posted to the BEF Mediterranean (Salonica). He died at No. 400 Casualty Clearing Station, Salonica, on 2 September 1918 from a gunshot wound received in action. He was buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece.
(See record on this Roll of Honour)
CWGC Additional information: Son of William and Emily Pooley, of Nottingham; husband of Agnes Pooley, of Dunkirk, Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Greater love hath no man'
Nottingham Journal, 11 October 1943: ‘Nottm. Gunner Killed in London. Gunner Walter Pooley, RA., (37) of 24, Cloister-street, Dunkirk, was accidentally killed last week while serving with his unit in the Outer London area. Prior to the war he was employed by the Nottingham Education Committee. The body has been brought back to Nottingham and the funeral is to take place at the Nottingham General Cemetery to-day.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Walter Pooley
Courtesy of Lenton Times.